NETPhon: Network for Education and
Training in Phonetics

NETPhon was established in 1994 by Jill House at the Department of Phonetics and Linguistics, University College London. It was initially supported by The Department for Education & Employment and has close links with the UK Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. Its main aims are:

• to develop good practice in the teaching and assessment of phonetics in the context of speech and language therapy;
• to encourage development of innovative methods and materials;
• to foster closer links between the academic and professional worlds.

NETPhon has established:

• Electronic networking, via the 'Phonet' mailing list, for the discussion and dissemination of information both within and beyond the context of training for speech and language therapists.

• Research into current curricula, teaching methods, assessment and staffing.

  A report summarising the results of a questionnaire distributed to all 16 UK HEIs involved in SLT eductaion and training is available.

• A Working Party on materials development which coordinates the collection, development and dissemination of teaching materials.

  One of the developments undertaken by the Working Party has been the creation of a phonetics teaching WWW resource. This provides information about audio-visual and multi-media material which has been developed for the teaching of phonetics, compiled from the results of an internationally distributed questionnaire.

• A series of Workshops during 1995.

  The first two were in April in London and covered "The Curriculum" and "Teaching and Assessment Methods". The third and fourth workshops were held in Newcastle in September, the third dealing with "Developments in Phonetics Teaching Materials" and the fourth being a plenary session to evaluate the activities of the Network, to draft some guidelines of "good practice" and to plan for continued collaboration in consideration of teaching and learning strategies for phonetics.

A final report to DfEE is available, in which we summarise the year's activities, evaluate progress and discuss plans for the future. Netphon is actively looking for funds to support its 1996 programme of activities. Offers and suggestions welcome!

Further information about 'NETPhon' and its activities can be obtained from Jill House (jill@phonetics.ucl.ac.uk), or from the current co-ordinator, Janet Beck (spbeck@main.qmced.ac.uk).

(Prepared by Gerry Docherty [g.j.docherty@ncl.ac.uk] and Mark Huckvale (UCL) for NETPhon.)

Last changed 1.2.96.

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